Unified volleyball teams battling to get into Sunday finals

Tuesday

Oct 29, 2013 at 7:25 PM

The R.I. Interscholastic League's Unified Volleyball tournament has gotten underway. The championship matchups for two of the divisions were decided Tuesday, as Cranston West defeated Portsmouth and East Greenwich defeated North Smithfield in the Div

By Carolyn Thornton

The R.I. Interscholastic League's Unified Volleyball tournament has gotten underway. The championship matchups for two of the divisions were decided Tuesday, as Cranston West defeated Portsmouth and East Greenwich defeated North Smithfield in the Division I semifinals, while Hendricken and Barrington posted victories over Westerly and Central Falls, respectively, in the Division II semis.

The Division III semifinals will take place Wednesday at Pilgrim, with North Kingstown and Pilgrim facing off at 3:30 p.m., followed by Chariho and Woonsocket at 4:45. Cumberland will host the Division IV semis on Wednesday, with Ponaganset playing Lincoln at 3:30 p.m. and Middletown facing Cumberland at 4:45.

The four championship games will be played Sunday at Johnson & Wales University's Harborside Recreational Center, located at 60 Harborside Boulevard in Cranston. Competition will begin with the Division I final between Cranston West and East Greenwich at 12:30 p.m. on Court 1, while the Division III final is held simultaneously on Court 2.

The Division II final between Hendricken and Barrington will take place at 2 p.m. on Court 1, at the same time that the Division IV final is being played on Court 2.

The tournament features high school teams in which athletes with intellectual disabilities are paired with regular athletes. Having an opportunity to play on a college campus should add to the excitement, said RIIL unified volleyball director Jerry Dandeneau. The Johnson and Wales women's volleyball team, coached by former Chariho star Arianna Dolock, is serving as the tournament host and has been "very helpful and very accommodating," he added.